I Challenge You

This is part of my ongoing series on the Mahabharat, an epic poem of ancient India. For links to all previous Mahabharat posts go here. Or you can simply click on the Mahabharat page link above.

I recorded this video just yesterday, for your entertainment...



Ok, people, so you haven't read any Mahabharat posts in months. You've had no Krishna or Arjuna or Draupadi or Duryodhana or (insert favourite Mahabharat character here) and you're feeling a little... Let down? Impatient? Suffering from Withdrawal?

Whatever you've been going through, I've been going through it worse. Believe me. And I've been thinking of how I can kick start us all back into Mahabharat mode and celebrate five years of Follow the Cowherd Boy at the same time. Then I suddenly thought - Quiz!

I've never done a quiz on this blog before. I've done polls and Q&As and vlogs but never a full-on quiz with prizes to be won. But if I'm going to do this then I'm going to do it properly.

So here's how it's going to work:

Next week on Friday March 9th 2012 I'm going to post 25 questions that pertain to my Mahabharat series and you (if you step up to the challenge) are going to answer them in the comments section beneath. Like I said in this latest vlog, it won't be easy.

1 POINT will be awarded per question and 5 EXTRA POINTS will go to those who post their answers on their own blog/facebook/twitter/social networking site. (Don't forget to tell me in the comments if you've done so).

Another 5 EXTRA POINTS will go to those who post on their blogs/facebook/twitter/social networking site before March 9th to let people know this quiz is happening. Again, don't forget to tell me in the comments section that you've done so.

You will have one week to post your answers. The deadline will be 12 midnight, Friday March 16th. That's the midnight of Friday, between Friday and Saturday, not Thursday and Friday.

Only people living in North America or Europe or Australia/New Zealand will be eligible to participate. I'm sorry! It's because I can't guarantee that a winner from another country will recieve their prize. For example, I've sent packages to India that got lost en route which was devastating for all parties concerned. If, however, you're not eligible but wish to enter simply for the fun of it then you are welcome to do so.

But you're wondering what the prizes are. And yes, there ARE prizes.

The winner of this Mahabharat quiz will recieve:

1. A signed copy of my first novel Follow the Cowherd Boy (limited first edition) with matching bookmarks. - For my readers.

2. An amazing illustrated children's book filled with stories from the epic. - For the kid in my readers.

3. A copy of The Bhagavad Gita according to Gandhi. The Bhagavad Gita is the most famous chapter of the Mahabharat and Gandhi was a huge fan. One of my favourite quotes from him is this: "When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and when I see not one ray of light on the horizon, I turn to the Bhagavad Gita, and find a verse to comfort me; and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow." - For the lover of philosophy in my readers.

4. A brand new sari picked out by yours truly (so you know it's going to be gorgeous) along with material for a matching blouse. The sari will be accompanied by matching costume jewellery accessories and bindis. It's the whole enchilada. - For the frivolous lover of fashion in my readers.

The second and third runners up will each recieve:

A signed copy of my first novel Follow the Cowherd Boy (limited first edition) with matching bookmarks.

And by the way, if you think you can cheat by studying up on past Mahabharat posts using the handy little link at the top of this post... Well, tech-ni-cally it's cheating so tech-ni-cally you shouldn't. But tech-ni-cally you could argue that the Mahabharat is about knowing truth so only someone who checked their facts was being true to the story. And as we all know, Arjuna always took the initiative and did extra lessons on the side because he had excellence. So tech-ni-cally you could get away with it.

Either way, the challenge is on, people! Stay tuned for the questions next week.



Translation:

Atha shri Mahabharata katha = This is the story of the Mahabharat,

Mahabharata katha = the story of the Mahabharat.

Katha hai purushartha ki = This is the story of the goal of human existence,

hai swartha ki paramartha ki = a story of self-interest and of spirituality,

Sarathi jisakey baney shri krishna bharata partha ki = when Krishna became Arjuna's charioteer,

Shabdha dig-goshita hua jab satya sarthak sarvadha = and spoke these words that are eternal, truthful, and needed:

*the conch shell sounds*

Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata = "Oh descendent of Bharat, whenever truth declines,"

Abhyuthanam adharmasya tadatmanam shrujamyaham = "and evil arises to encompass the world,"

paritranaya sadhunam vinashaya cha dushkrutam = "then to protect the good and destroy the wicked,"

dharma sanstapana taya sambhavami yuge yuge = "and to re-establish truth on Earth, I manifest myself from age to age."


Go here to read the quiz questions!
Go here for the previous post in this series.